Police arrested forteen suspected gang members and seized 30 pounds marijuana, 3 guns, $55,000 in cash and 400 grams of cocaine in raids after a neary two year investigation. The members ranged in age from 15 to 30. (Images: NYPD)
Queens
By Geoffrey Croft
The police smashed a drug ring yesterday, arresting fourteen suspected gang members who controlled a park in Queens, NYC Park Advocates has learned.
The gang sold drugs on basketball and handball courts inside the park.
Police seized 30 pounds marijuana, 3 guns, $55,000 in cash and 400 grams of cocaine in raids.
Police began an investigation early in 2016 into the gang who call themselves “ABK” or “Always Banging Kings,” which operated predominately in parks in Jackson Heights, Queens according to police sources.
Police determined that the gang was responsible for drug sales and resulting violence in and around several parks, and met for public meetings inside one in particular.
Travers Park, on Northern Blvd and 77th Street where two people were seriously injured in 2016 when they were viciously attacked by gang members in separate incidents, Both were stabbed, one was slashed with a machete.
Undercover officers from NYPD’s Queens North Gang Squad made buys of drugs including Marijuana, cocaine, prescription pills and in a new twist, straight Fentanyl.
Fentanyl is a powerful synthetic opioid analgesic that is similar to morphine but is 50 to 100 times more potent. Fentanyl, a sedative, is often added to heroin to make it stronger which is a leading cause of overdoses across the country.
Authorities are now seeing a new trend, drug gangs sell straight Fentanyl in pill form to customers minus the cocaine.
Police said the low level dealers were the gangs soldiers, 15 to 18 years olds, responsible for the street level drug sales and most of the violence. The gang was headed by a series of Lieutenants and Captains, 25 - 30 years old who supplied the drugs and directed the violence.
The drug sales made the gang hundreds of thousands of dollars with customers coming as far away as Long Island to purchase the drugs in the parks.
The gang also dealt in a high-grade hydroponic marijuana - grown in water instead of in soil. The marijuana was grown in Sacramento California and shipped through the US Postal Service.
The gang was put under surveillance and detectives obtained warrant sto wiretap gang members phones.
Police seized 30 pounds of marijuana in yesterday’s raid worth an estimated $75,000.
Police conducted raids on other identified members of the gang and picked up 14 people in raids on homes in Jackson Heights, Corona and Sunnyside, Queens. Other members are being sought.
They seized 30 pounds marijuana worth $75,000 on the street, 3 guns, $55,000 in cash and 400 grams cocaine as well as three vehicles used the transport the drugs.
The gang was also known to frequent Moore Homestead Playground in Elmhurst as well.
In May an 18-year-old Hispanic male playing basketball in Travers Park was stabbed in the back. The victim suffered a collapsed lung, multiple stab wounds, and swelling and bruising to the face. He was hit with a chain and slashed with a broken Snapple bottle above his right eye.
He was asked if he was a member of ABK - Always Banging Kings - a vicious rival of the Latin Kings.
In August, a 21 year-old man was slashed by a machete and stabbed several times while walking through Travers Park when he was approached by three men. One of the men pulled out a machete and slashed the victim in the head, and twice on the left arm and once in the right.
A Queens County grand jury indicted six purported members of the notorious ABK (Always Bangin’ Kings) street gang for plotting to kill two rival gang members in December 2016 and that an additional eleven individuals affiliated with the ABK gang have been indicted or summarily arrested for selling drugs in the Elmhurst and Maspeth neighborhoods of Queens at various times between January 2016 and November 2016, Queens District Attorney Richard A. Brown and Police Commissioner James P. O’Neill announced today.
As part of the takedown, three other alleged ABK gang members – two women and a man – were apprehended this week and charged with gang assault and other crimes for a vicious attack on a male individual at a fast food restaurant in Woodside, Queens, last month.
“A long-term investigation, which included court-authorized wiretaps, is alleged to have thwarted the death of two individuals in Queens three months ago when an investigator allegedly overheard the defendants planning to kill rival gang members," District Attorney Brown said,
"Fortunately for the victims, the defendants were arrested as they are alleged to have been laying in wait for their targets to exit a bar,” he said.
“Today, the defendants find themselves under arrest for selling cocaine and other drugs in the Elmhurst and Maspeth neighborhoods of Queens," Police Commissioner James O’Neill said in a statement.
"The investigation also prevented at least two homicides, as detectives were able to intervene before the killing of two rival gang members.”
The two other defendants pleaded guilty to second-degree conspiracy and are deemed youthful offenders. Their cases are sealed according to the Queens District Attorney's office.
Police seized 30 pounds marijuana during the raid.
ATTEMPTED MURDER DEFENDANTS (6 defendants)
Michael “Ceoz” Aalil, 20, of Elmhurst, is charged with second-degree attempted murder, second- and fourth-degree conspiracy, first degree attempted gang assault, first-degree attempted assault, second-, third- and fourth-degree criminal possession of a weapon and criminal possession of a firearm. The defendant was arraigned before Acting Supreme Court Justice Toko Serita, who set bail at $2 million. His next court date is April 6, 2017. If convicted, the defendant faces up to 25 years in prison.
Francis “Franchise” Carias, 29, of East Elmhurst, is charged with second-degree attempted murder, second- and fourth-degree conspiracy, first degree attempted gang assault, first-degree attempted assault, second-, third and fourth-degree criminal possession of a weapon, criminal possession of a firearm and resisting arrest. The defendant was arraigned before Supreme Court Justice Gia Morris and was remanded into custody. His next court date is March 14, 2017. If convicted, the defendant faces up to life in prison.
Dionicio “Dime” Castro, 23, of Woodside, is charged with second-degree attempted murder, second- and fourth-degree conspiracy, first-degree attempted gang assault, first-degree attempted assault, second- and fourth-degree criminal possession of a weapon, criminal possession of a firearm and resisting arrest. The defendant was arraigned before Queens Supreme Court Justice Gia Morris and was remanded into custody. His next court date is April 6, 2017. If convicted, the defendant faces up to 25 years in prison.
Michael “Tunes” Cortes, 24, of Jackson Heights, is charged with second-degree attempted murder, second- and fourth-degree conspiracy, first-degree attempted gang assault, first-degree attempted assault, second-, third and fourth-degree criminal possession of a weapon and criminal possession of a firearm. The defendant was arraigned before Queens Supreme Court Justice Toko Serita, who set bail at $2 million. His next court date is April 6, 2017. If convicted, the defendant faces up to life in prison.
DRUG SELLING INDICTMENTS AND CRIMINAL COMPLAINTS (11 defendants)
Joshua Bonilla, 22, of Elmhurst, is charged with third- and fifth-degree criminal sale of a controlled substance, fourth- and fifth-degree criminal sale of marihuana. The defendant was arraigned this week before Acting Supreme Court Justice Barry Kron, who set bail at $2 million. The next court date is April 7, 2017. If convicted, Bonilla faces up to nine years in prison.
Michael Diaz, 25, of Jackson Heights, is charged with third-degree criminal sale of marihuana and is being sought. If convicted, Diaz faces up to two years in prison.
Jonathan Francisco, 25, of Corona, is charged with third- and fifth-degree criminal sale of a controlled substance and fourth-degree criminal sale of marihuana. The defendant was arraigned this week before Acting Supreme Court Justice Barry Kron, who released the defendant on his own recognizance and ordered him to return to court on April 7, 2017. If convicted, Francisco faces up to nine years in prison.
John Gutierrez, 32, of Corona, is charged with third-degree criminal sale of marihuana and is being sought. If convicted, Gutierrez faces up to two years in prison.
Michelle Mendez, 31, of Elmhurst, is charged with third- and fifth-degree criminal sale of a controlled substance and fourth-degree criminal sale of marihuana. The defendant was arraigned this week before Acting Supreme Court Justice Barry Kron, who released the defendant on her own recognizance and ordered her to return to court on April 7, 2017. If convicted, Mendez faces up to nine years in prison.
Marco Neira, 23, of Kew Gardens, is charged with second-degree criminal possession of marijuana. The defendant was arraigned this week before Queens Criminal Court Judge John Zoll, who set bail at $10,000 and ordered the defendant to return to court on March 22, 2017. If convicted, he faces up to two and a half years in prison.
Joshua Ortega, 22, of Flushing, is charged with criminal sale of marijuana and conspiracy. The defendant is awaiting arraignment in Queens Criminal Court. If convicted, he faces up to five and a half years in prison.
Louis Quinonez, 23, of Flushing, is charged with criminal sale of marijuana and conspiracy. The defendant is awaiting arraignment in Queens Criminal Court. If convicted, he faces up to four years in prison.
Javier Trivino, 25, of Corona, is charged with third- and fifth-degree criminal sale of a controlled substance and is being sought. If convicted, Trivino faces up to 15 years in prison.
Carlos Villafane, 22, of Flushing, is charged with first-, second- and third-degree criminal sale of a controlled substance. The defendant was arraigned this week before Queens Criminal Court Judge John Zoll, who remanded the defendant. The next court date is March 22, 2017. If convicted, he faces up to 20 years in prison.
Jin Bin Zheng, 33, of Brooklyn, is charged with first-degree sale of marijuana. The defendant is awaiting arraignment in Queens Criminal Court. If convicted, he faces up to five and a half years in prison.
GANG ASSAULT CRIMINAL COMPLAINTS (3 defendants)
Jennifer Charris, 31, of Elmhurst, is charged with first-degree gang assault, first- and second-degree assault, fourth-degree criminal possession of a weapon. Defendant was arraigned this week before Criminal Court Judge John Zoll, who released her on her own recognizance and ordered her to return to court on March 22, 2017. If convicted, she faces up to 25 years in prison.
Anthony Delgado, 21, of Corona, is charged with first-degree gang assault, first- and second-degree assault, fourth-degree criminal possession of a weapon. Defendant was arraigned this week before Queens Criminal Court Judge John Zoll, who set bail at $250,000 and ordered him back to court on March 22, 2017. If convicted, he faces up to 25 years in prison.
Margaret Lynch-Frazier, 27, of Sunnyside, is charged with first-degree gang assault, first- and second-degree assault, fourth-degree criminal possession of a weapon. Defendant was arraigned this week before Queens Criminal Court Judge John Zoll, who set bail at $20,000 and ordered her to return to court on March 22, 2017. If convicted, she faces up to 25 years in prison.
Read/View More
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New York Daily News - March 9, 2017
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